This is my sister's granola recipe. It's amazing. You'll never buy pre-fab granola again if you make this one time.
Deb's Granola
4 1/2 cups rolled oats (not the quick ones; use the old-fashioned kind)
1 cup sliced/slivered almonds
1 cup pecan pieces
1 1/2 cups flaked coconut
1/4 cup flax seed
1/4 cup oat bran (I didn't have any, so I used wheat germ)
2/3 cup brown sugar
Mix all this together in a really big bowl. Then, whisk together:
1/2 cup maple syrup (the real stuff; don't ruin your palate with that fake corn-syrup nonsense.)
1/2 cup coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon salt
and pour over the oat mixture in the big bowl. Toss around until it's all nicely coated. Spread evenly on 3 cookie sheets (make sure they have sides). Bake at 250° for an hour, stirring every 15 minutes.
I also put raisins in mine, but that's optional. You can substitute for a lot of the things in the recipe, so if you can't get a certain thing, just try something else. It's amazing.
Yogurt recipe coming soon!
Leah
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Shopping Adventures
Today we went shopping with the Artist and her friend Kim. What's really cool about Kim is she can do the whole Hannah Montana dance from the movie. Oh yes. And she's 18...or maybe 19. Something like that. And incredibly secure about being able to do the Hannah Montana dance. Yes.
So we met halfway between the Artist's college and home, and shopped at a very cool mall there. We tried our hardest to talk the Mother Ship into getting something for herself, but she didn't. In the Artist's words, our mother is the worst shopper on the planet. Not because she buys bad things, but because she doesn't buy anything. *sigh* We tried.
So the Artist got a very cute bag, a shirt that looks like a picnic tablecloth (it looks good on her), and something else that I can't remember.
I got a really cute pair of earrings. I'd put up a picture, but blogger is being stupid and won't let me. Grr.
And in other news, I'm looking to replace my sad, old, Jurassic-era laptop before grad school, and I'm contemplating getting a Mac. I've had a PC forever, so I'm a little unsure. Plus the price difference is, sorta...huge. But I think I might be ready to try a computer that's not frustrating every single day. Just a thought. So what's your opinion? Mac or PC?
And now, I'm very very tired and trying not to be irritable, so I'm going to sleep. Have a lovely Sunday tomorrow.
Leah
So we met halfway between the Artist's college and home, and shopped at a very cool mall there. We tried our hardest to talk the Mother Ship into getting something for herself, but she didn't. In the Artist's words, our mother is the worst shopper on the planet. Not because she buys bad things, but because she doesn't buy anything. *sigh* We tried.
So the Artist got a very cute bag, a shirt that looks like a picnic tablecloth (it looks good on her), and something else that I can't remember.
I got a really cute pair of earrings. I'd put up a picture, but blogger is being stupid and won't let me. Grr.
And in other news, I'm looking to replace my sad, old, Jurassic-era laptop before grad school, and I'm contemplating getting a Mac. I've had a PC forever, so I'm a little unsure. Plus the price difference is, sorta...huge. But I think I might be ready to try a computer that's not frustrating every single day. Just a thought. So what's your opinion? Mac or PC?
And now, I'm very very tired and trying not to be irritable, so I'm going to sleep. Have a lovely Sunday tomorrow.
Leah
Friday, January 22, 2010
Updates and such
What a lousy blogger I am. Oh well. It's on my to-do list. Anyway, we just finished up our first semester at school, and I'm having mixed feelings about it. I'm kind of glad it's over because I had two classes that were a real pain in the neck. But on the other hand, I've heard from everyone and their mother that one of the classes I have next semester is awful. I'm talking like the kid who got suspended for holding up a chair and threatening to throw it at some other students, another who is autistic (I have nothing against autistic kids, it's just that there are 28 other students in this class and I don't think I can really help the kid much), yet another who has been suspended ten days for fighting already this year...and the list marches on. It's gonna be a little on the rough side, methinks.
On the happy end of things, a couple of my students from the first semester are going to play at an open-mic night in town next week. Kids who never touched a guitar before my class. Doesn't that just make me feel like a good teacher, haha:)
And on the grad school end, things are looking good. I've been accepted, audition is over, and now I'm waiting to hear if I got a grad assistantship. I'm hoping...basically I'd get paid to go to school. And work, but you know. It's the principle of the thing. So in April I'm going to road trip it up with my friend Hope (she's going to the same school for her undergrad) and we're going to go visit classes and try to find a church and stuff. Fun fun fun! I still can't believe her parents AND mine think this is ok. And MY dad was the one who suggested it! Weird! If you're thinking that it's weird that I had to have permission here, it's because I live at home and drive my parents' car, so their house their rules is my philosophy.
And then in June I'm off to Teen Missions bootcamp and then Hong Kong! I'm super excited - I can't wait to get busy telling people about Jesus over there and hopefully helping teenagers grow in Christ.
Random side note: had an amazing phone convo with my BFFFF Amanda last night! I love that girl!
And that's all that's up in Leah-land! How are you? How's your life?
Leah
On the happy end of things, a couple of my students from the first semester are going to play at an open-mic night in town next week. Kids who never touched a guitar before my class. Doesn't that just make me feel like a good teacher, haha:)
And on the grad school end, things are looking good. I've been accepted, audition is over, and now I'm waiting to hear if I got a grad assistantship. I'm hoping...basically I'd get paid to go to school. And work, but you know. It's the principle of the thing. So in April I'm going to road trip it up with my friend Hope (she's going to the same school for her undergrad) and we're going to go visit classes and try to find a church and stuff. Fun fun fun! I still can't believe her parents AND mine think this is ok. And MY dad was the one who suggested it! Weird! If you're thinking that it's weird that I had to have permission here, it's because I live at home and drive my parents' car, so their house their rules is my philosophy.
And then in June I'm off to Teen Missions bootcamp and then Hong Kong! I'm super excited - I can't wait to get busy telling people about Jesus over there and hopefully helping teenagers grow in Christ.
Random side note: had an amazing phone convo with my BFFFF Amanda last night! I love that girl!
And that's all that's up in Leah-land! How are you? How's your life?
Leah
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Tennessee Trip, Part II
So that first Friday was Christmas. Our family doesn't celebrate Christmas, what with its origins being Catholic and farther back, pagan (originating at the tower of Babel, if you didn't know), so we didn't really care much. My brother-in-law's family usually gets together for a big dinner though, so we went and hung out with all of them. It's really weird...we used to be really close with all of them, but they don't make any effort at staying in touch, even when we do, so it's like we don't really know each other anymore. It's kind of sad. I feel like we kept growing up and our lives are going somewhere, and there, time just stands still. So they didn't. But they're ok with it so I guess it's alright. Anyway...this was a long rabbit trail.
Punkin', Sticky Bean and I stayed home from church on Sunday because Sticky Bean had some weird thing that gave him red spots (we had several theories, but never really figured it out), and I had a cold, so we decided not to give whatever we had to everyone else. Aaaaaand Punkin' taught me how to make homemade granola (recipe coming) and yogurt (recipe also coming), so we did that and cleaned the house. Worked a little on my skirt too. Fun times.
The next week, we cooked a lot, I washed dishes a lot, and read some good books, went to get milk from one of the Amish families, finished my skirt, and just enjoyed being together. I just love visiting my sister. She always listens well and gives me good advice about stuff, and doesn't treat me like I'm stupid. Which leads me to my next point. I really really really HATE when people talk to me like I'm stupid. You know, that patronizing, a-little-too-patient voice they use for two-year-olds and puppies. I. CAN. NOT. STAND. THAT. And there is a person in my life right now, who shall remain nameless, that uses that tone with me all the time, and it really just makes me want to smack said unnamed person. *sigh* I'm done with that now. I just needed to get that out.
Okay. About my brother-in-law, who I call LoggerDave on this here blog thingie. He's pretty cool. I like him a lot. He just loves my sister so much, and loves their son, and I think he's pretty great. I'd be ok marrying someone like him. I just really think a lot of him. He works really hard and loves Jesus. Those are the important parts, anyway:)
So then we came home, and now we're back to our normal, lame lives. Haha:) Not really lame, just a little less fun. I still enjoy teaching, and the ITRT at my school finally got my SMART board working (YAY!!) so that's making things easier and more interesting in the general music classes I teach. Our semesters are about to change over, so I'll get new students in those classes in a little over a week. I'm a little nervous about that because I have one class with TWENTY NINE students in it. Yes. Really. I told the guidance counselors if they put another kid in that class, I better get an aide. (It's the law...they'd have to give me one) Really though I almost cried when I saw that. You've got to be kidding me!! was my first thought. I'll get through it somehow...
P.S. Superbowl predictions (not that my opinion matters): Colts and Jets.
Leah
Punkin', Sticky Bean and I stayed home from church on Sunday because Sticky Bean had some weird thing that gave him red spots (we had several theories, but never really figured it out), and I had a cold, so we decided not to give whatever we had to everyone else. Aaaaaand Punkin' taught me how to make homemade granola (recipe coming) and yogurt (recipe also coming), so we did that and cleaned the house. Worked a little on my skirt too. Fun times.
The next week, we cooked a lot, I washed dishes a lot, and read some good books, went to get milk from one of the Amish families, finished my skirt, and just enjoyed being together. I just love visiting my sister. She always listens well and gives me good advice about stuff, and doesn't treat me like I'm stupid. Which leads me to my next point. I really really really HATE when people talk to me like I'm stupid. You know, that patronizing, a-little-too-patient voice they use for two-year-olds and puppies. I. CAN. NOT. STAND. THAT. And there is a person in my life right now, who shall remain nameless, that uses that tone with me all the time, and it really just makes me want to smack said unnamed person. *sigh* I'm done with that now. I just needed to get that out.
Okay. About my brother-in-law, who I call LoggerDave on this here blog thingie. He's pretty cool. I like him a lot. He just loves my sister so much, and loves their son, and I think he's pretty great. I'd be ok marrying someone like him. I just really think a lot of him. He works really hard and loves Jesus. Those are the important parts, anyway:)
So then we came home, and now we're back to our normal, lame lives. Haha:) Not really lame, just a little less fun. I still enjoy teaching, and the ITRT at my school finally got my SMART board working (YAY!!) so that's making things easier and more interesting in the general music classes I teach. Our semesters are about to change over, so I'll get new students in those classes in a little over a week. I'm a little nervous about that because I have one class with TWENTY NINE students in it. Yes. Really. I told the guidance counselors if they put another kid in that class, I better get an aide. (It's the law...they'd have to give me one) Really though I almost cried when I saw that. You've got to be kidding me!! was my first thought. I'll get through it somehow...
P.S. Superbowl predictions (not that my opinion matters): Colts and Jets.
Leah
Monday, January 11, 2010
Tennessee Trip
Alrighty then! Here's the scoop on what happened for the last, oh three and a half weeks that I haven't blogged. What a lousy blogger...sad day. Anyway. On December 21st Moose and I flew out to visit our older sister (Punkin') in southwest Tennessee. We were praying the whole three days beforehand though, because it snowed MAJOR LEAGUE right before we left. But God had mercy on us and our cabin fever, and helped us get a vehicle out to get to the airport. And only one flight was slightly delayed. Not bad at all:) We arrived in TN and found our lovely sister, as well as the Artist, who had driven up from Texas with her BFF after BFF Noelle's college graduation (we're a busy bunch). We stopped at Chipotle for dinner like any good Christian family, and I promptly did something stupid - got all the way through the line to the register to pay for my dinner, and realized that I had left my wallet in the van. Awesome. So I asked Moose to go out and get it, but being a male, the poor man-child had no idea where I had put it, so he was...struggling...shall we say. Well the nice Mexican either took pity on me or wanted my numero de telefono, and gave me my dinner free, with a simple "I took care of it for you." :) Gracias. Then we went to Punkin's house, with her adorable yet noisy son screaming the whole hour and a half. Yesssss.
Keep in mind that we have many casual friends in this area, since we used to live there, and they all expect us to treat them like family and spend three nights at their house plus every waking second. And I just really wanted to see my sister. So I sorta...um...didn't tell anyone else I was coming. Heheheh. So we spent a couple of days just hanging out with Punkin', making skirts (Moose didn't make one...what a spoilsport), cooking good food, and generally being really Betty Crocker-ish. Good times. Then at some point her in-laws (some of the treat-us-like-family-even-though-we're-not crowd) found out we were there and started wanting us to go everywhere with them. Which we kindly refused. Because we just plain didn't feel like it.
So this is the first part...more to come later:)
Leah
Keep in mind that we have many casual friends in this area, since we used to live there, and they all expect us to treat them like family and spend three nights at their house plus every waking second. And I just really wanted to see my sister. So I sorta...um...didn't tell anyone else I was coming. Heheheh. So we spent a couple of days just hanging out with Punkin', making skirts (Moose didn't make one...what a spoilsport), cooking good food, and generally being really Betty Crocker-ish. Good times. Then at some point her in-laws (some of the treat-us-like-family-even-though-we're-not crowd) found out we were there and started wanting us to go everywhere with them. Which we kindly refused. Because we just plain didn't feel like it.
So this is the first part...more to come later:)
Leah
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